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The tavern was now a burning pile of rubble. Smoke and dust filled the air.
The Town Watch raised the alarm. The fire brigades began to form, but Micheal had the situation well in hand.

Shaking off the effects of the blast and summoning all his strength for one last spell, Micheal cast Create Water. Concentrating upon the form of the spell, he managed to spread the water around enough to douse the flames. Then he sat down, dizzy from the fatiuge and breathing hard.

Horin heard a muffled voice from beneath the rubble: "Horin, is that you? Hey, I'm under here! Little help, please?" Horin could make out an overturned bathtub upon which the remains of a brick chimney had fallen. Someone was trapped under the bathtub!

Meanwhile, Acedia, Marcus and Captain Sealem had all heard the blast. Without a word, all three ran towards the sight of the rising smoke.

A member of Captain Sealem's contingent of Elven Swordsmen came up to Prosper. He said: "You are hurt, Master Prosper. I am Lieutenent Keran; Captain Sealem left me in charge of your security detail while he was attending to other matters. I have five men with me: Seargent Kor is on the roof of the watch tower, concealed with bow and keeping overwatch; Troopers Chathun, Albth, Sumagh and Frense are mixed in with the onlookers, watching for enemies." Propser recognised the man, but he'd never talked to him before. However, since the Doppleganger was not accounted for, Propser wasn't sure if this was really one of Captain Sealem's men or just a Doppleganger impersonating one. "It is not safe here, Master Prosper. We must go, for your own safety."

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"I'm on it." said Tem, telekinesis-ing the tub. He had a pounding headache from all his exertion. His Psipowers will fizzle out soon.

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I lost the state spelling bee in FIFTH PLACE!!

Prosper eyed him, could this be the impostor? Maybe, but Prosper HAD seen him before so he threw caution to the winds. "Alright Lieutenent, where do you suggest?" Prosper immediately began having second thoughts, so he checked to make sure the rest of the group were nearby.

<Man, my character's gonna regret this.>

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"Oh, hello, Acedia!" Marcus was surprised to see her as much as she was to see him. "What are you doing here?"

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"Who is that?" Horin replied, then noticing Tem struggling with the tub. "You will have to get the bricks off first."

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Taryn haphazardly tossed bricks off of the bathtub, clearing it rather quickly. "Should be easier, now," she said, before kneeling herself and pulling on the tub as well, cutting the amount of work involved for Tem by at least a quarter, possibly half.

"Hello," she said as a matter of courtesy. "Well, originally, I needed you and Captain Sealem to come with me to the livery stable where Maxwell is being held, though I think there are yet more pressing matters at hand. Did you not see the tavern explode just now?" O_o;; though how you miss something like that baffles me, I don't think Marcus couldn't accomplish such a feat. XD

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[OOC: My computer a-splode, so the only one I have is at my mom's house on the weekends. Remember that Lizzardmen aren't very bright anyway. Marcus would more likely notice something shiny than some kind of explosion. ]

"I heard a big BOOM, but I didn't know what it was. Besides, I have more important things to do."

"That boom was the tavern exploding, and some of our party was /in/ that tavern at the time. I know Farnham, Horin and Taryn were in there, and I seem to remember seeing Tem there too. Prosper and Eruantian may have gone to the tavern as well, though I am not sure of that. And Sam the bartender was injured and retired for the day, I believe. Anyway -- the point is that we need to go over there and see what needs to be done."

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"OK, I'm right behind you! Let's go!" Marcus puffed out his already-big chest and hurried on over to the tavern.

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Acedia followed, motioning for Captain Sealem to come along as well. Oh, what craziness will follow this little episode?

{ The end of the current chapter has to be coming up. O_o }

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Marcus arrived at the tavern.
[OOC: Is it in flames, or just in ruins?]

< GM's Note: It was burning, but Micheal put it out with a Create Water spell>

As the bricks came off the tub, the tub lifted a bit from below and the forms of Sam and Farnham could be seen huddled together below it.

"I knew I didn't have much time, so I when I burst into Sam's room I threw Sam into the bathtub, jumped on top of him, and held on tight. Somehow, we ended up upside-down with the bathtub on top of us and covered in bricks. My ears are still ringing. Give us a hand with the tub here."

Sam added: "Up she goes, lads. Heave!"

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Marcus was able to get the tub off in one fell swoop, single-clawedly. "Are you both okay? Where's Mister Maxwell?"

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"Thanks for your help, Marcus," Taryn said with absolutely nothing like sincerity. "And didn't Acedia tell you? Maxwell's being held captive by a bunch of goons working for the late source of this explosion, and at last check he was unconscious, although a blast like that could wake the dead. It certainly got my attention, at least."

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"No, she didn't tell me anything!" Marcus hissed. "I think she doesn't like me on account of I'm a Lizzardman! But it happens. Anyway, we need to find those goons! Did they leave anything I can smell so I can track them?"

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"She should have said something about it. You probably missed it. Anyway, we know where said goons are hiding, their positions in their hiding spot and what they are armed with, to an extent. What we need is a plan of attack in order to retrieve Maxwell, and then maybe we'll let you play with them or eat them or something once that goal is accomplished." Ooh. Stress at work here.

Acedia arrived at the scene of the explosion at this point. "Somehow I get the feeling that the livery stable has been vacated..."

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"Naw, I don't eat humans!" He smiled. "They're either too fat, which'll make me fat, or too skinny. Can't find a human with a good bit of muscle around here. But I think we'll be fine if I just bust in there alone. It's pretty hard to take down a Lizzardman like me!" Marcus flexed his muscles for the millionth time. "Harr!"

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"No, I really think we should wait and strategize. We don't even know if they're still in there," Acedia said. "You'll probably become an integral part of the plan, but still - Horin's healing magic will only last so long without a rest, he's already healed three people today, and it can't hurt to see if he can do anything for Maxwell once we recover him. When I saw him, he had some nasty bruises. Should you get hurt, there is no guarantee we'll be able to do anything for you."

"That reminds me," Taryn said suddenly. "I should probably go mention to Horin that Prosper's arm ought to be cauterized. The poor kid managed to reopen the wound when the tavern blew," she explained, before getting up and heading over to Horin.

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"I'm not going to get hurt!" Marcus barked. "Nothing can penetrate these scales."

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"That," Acedia said, taking on a manner much like Taryn's, "is the kind of attitude that gets you violently killed. Ask Taryn - she won't spare you any of the gory details."

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"What, did she die?" Marcus cocked his head. "Besides, I'm a boy and she's a girl. I can take on a few goons."

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Captain Sealem was right behind Acedia, and he ran up to Prosper with a look of great concern on his face.

"Ah, here come the Captain now." said Lt. Kern. Turning to face Captain Sealem, the Lieutenent made a serise of quick gestures with his fingers. Some sort of sign language, thought Propser. A secret way to communicate, perhaps?

Captain Sealem resopnded with a bit of sign language of his own. "Propser! Thank the Oakfather, you are in one piece. What in the world happened here? First I hear Maxwell has been kidnapped, and then before I know it this Tavern explodes. We must assume that agents of the Drow are behind this, that this was an assassination attempt. Lieutenent, new orders: Take command of Squad Two. Inform Squad Two of the situation, have them rendezvous with us one block from the livery stable, corner of 3rd street and Redwood Road. I'll take command of Squad One, and we'll be there as soon as we can. The primary mission objective is to rescue Mister Maxwell. Secondary objective is to capture or kill the hostage takers. Wait for Squad One at the rendezvous point before proceeding to the objective. If the Town Watch mounts a rescue operation of their own, inform them that there is one already in progress and attempt to co-opt. Otherwise, you are to proceed on-mission at all costs. Extraction point is the north gate. Maximum use of stealth will be critical to this mission's success. I want cloaks and daggers, and I want them silent & deadly. Are we clear?"
Lieutenent Keran "Yes Sir, crystal clear Sir!"
Captain Sealem saluted and said "Then the mission is a go. Dismissed!" The Liutenent returned the salute and then ran off to his appointed tasks.
"Stay close, Master Propser. Here, take this knife. You may need it."
Captain Sealem handed Proper a hunting knife, with single-edged blade about seven inches long and slightly curved at the point. "I see Eruntian has your spear, so you'll need something for defense. Come let us help Mister Farnham and the barkeeper Sam."
As he spoke, Captain Sealem's Squad One formed up in a loose circle around Propser, obviously on bodyguard detail.

Micheal, sitting on the cobblestones, said: "Don't mind me, I just need to rest a bit." He looke a bit better then he had just after casting that last spell he did. Apparently, his tolerance for Spellcasting Fatigue was improving.

Meanwhile, Sam saw what had become of his bar. The color drained out of his face; He was obviously in shock at the sight of the destruction. "My bar! The Inn! Oh no... oh no... no no no no.... Thank the stars I sent the barmaids weren't inside when it happened. Oh my life's work is runined."

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Tem tried to arm himself with telekinetic claws, but couldn't. "weuhbesbuhyf," muttered Tem, "my powers are fizzling. And Ixleflerb, GET HERE ALREADY!!" he yelled. Tem's squad appeared by Tem. He informed them of the situation, and the plan. "Ixleflerb, go with squad 1. Fornechk, squad 2. Bob, you're with me."

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I lost the state spelling bee in FIFTH PLACE!!

Captain Sealem, Prosper in tow, came up to Farnham. :Glad to see you in one piece, Farnham. I had feared you were lost to us. And you, Sam; you as well. It seems we mus hurry now more than before, for the kidnappers will surely have heard the explosion. There's no telling what they will do now, so we must be swift. Do you have your sword?"
Farnham shook his head: "No, it's lost. I must have dropped it in my haste to rescue Sam."
Sealem shook his head: "Pity, it was a fine sword. Well, no time to look for that now. Mage Micheal, how fare ye?"
Micheal stood up and said: "Recovering. Still a bit woozy, but I can see the manasphere again. Should be able to cast spells again in a few hours."
Captaion Sealem responded: "Then be our eyes to watch for hostile magic. At least you can warn us if an enemy mage...."
Miche cut in: "That's just the thing: Whoever blew up Sams bar used a tremendously advanced form of magic, the likes of which I've never seen; Not even at the Royal Academy. I should have been able to discern the triggering link before it activated, but it was masked somehow. We're not just dealing with a band of common criminals here. Someone wants us dead, and you get one guess who."
Sealem cursed under his breath: "Those blasted Drow again. They are more devious than I would have believed. This changes things. It seems to me that Maxwell's Kidnappers are but unwitting pawns in a larger game, and we prey of an unseen predator. But, I digress. To the matter at hand. Sam, I fear we must depart for the moment. Maxwell is in danger, and we must away."
Sam, still stunned by the loss of his livelyhood, mumbled "'sokay.. you go on, I think I see my brass rail poking out of the bits of wood there..."
Farnham said: "Blasted Drow... I'll avenge you on them, Sam. I swear it." but Sam didn't seem to hear him, so Farnham turned and said: "Ok, everyone, lets go. Captain Sealem, you look like you have a plan in mind."
"Captain Sealem replied: "Aye, I do. These kidnappers are in all together in one room, it seems. We have them right where we want them, then.

Here's my plan: Marcus can surprise them by bashing through one of the wooden walls. I've seen these wals, and they will splinter with a few good bashings from Marcus's scaly fists, I assure you. The kidnappers won't expect that: It will put them off their guard momentarily. More, they will have their hands full with Marcus's combat prowness, and that will leave the doors and windows easier to enter through for the rest of the rescue party. Acedia, Tem and Taryn can then enter through the front and back doors, and use their powers to effect fear among the criminals. Under cover of this distraction, my men and I will slip in through the various entrances and use our special training to subdue the kidnappers, alive is possible, dead if necessary. When we give the all-clear, the rest of the rescue party should enter the stable and we will effect Maxwell's departure. Farnham, Horin and Eruntian should stay with Micheal in the rear and await the all-clear. A squad of my troops under Lieutenant Keran is already en-route to rendezvous with us near the stable. I suggest we move out."
Farnham said. "Gotta hand it to you, that does sound like a plan. Ok, I'm in."
Farnham looked around at the others, as if waiting for a similar affirmation.

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"Um, only one problem: my psionics are outta juice! I've still got my ethereal connection, yeah, but that won't do much good." said Tem.

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I lost the state spelling bee in FIFTH PLACE!!

"I can take 'em out, no problem!" Marcus smiled, puffing out his chest.

{ Hoo, boy. Marcus may have crossed the line with that sexism. }



"Not as such. You really ought to hear the story. It might knock some sense into you, you cocky varlet!" Obviously, Acedia took offense to Marcus's 'I'm a boy and she's a girl' remark. Without another word, she went after Taryn, walking rigidly with fists clenched.

Both women heard the plan. "Afterward I might see what I can do for Sam's bar," Taryn said. "I'm not sure if the term 'regeneration of nonliving things' includes restoring destroyed buildings, but it can't hurt to find out."

{ varlet: a deceitful and unreliable scoundrel }

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[Disclaimer: IantheGecko does not condone the thoughts and behaviors of Marcus Donaldson.]

The Lizzardboy cocked his head again. "What's a varlet? Izzat some kinda aminal?"

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"A varlet is a deceitful and unreliable scoundrel," Taryn recited matter-of-factly.

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Prosper, armed with the dagger given to him, was in pain. His wounds were bleeding and it hurt like fire to move the injured arm. Looking up at Sehran, he asked; "What can I do?"

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